On May 8, Ohio held a primary for the Republican, Democratic, and Green Parties. The votes aren’t all counted yet, but it appears one-fifth of 1% of the voters chose a Green Party primary ballot.

By contrast, in 2016, only .11% of the voters chose a Green Party primary ballot. And in 2014, only about .07% did so.

Ohio gives all ballot-qualified parties a primary, except that newly-qualifying parties nominate by convention instead. The Libertarian Party expects to be a ballot-qualified party soon in Ohio, but its nominees will not be chosen in a primary.

California State Senator Ben Allen has introduced a state constitutional amendment, SCA 21, to change certain characteristics of the top-two system. It had originally been set for a hearing in the Senate Election Committee on May 1, but was postponed. Then it was set for the May 15 hearing, but it has again been postponed.

A U.S. District Court in Illinois is currently adjudicating a lawsuit against the state’s 5% (of the last vote cast) petition requirement for U.S. House. The trial in the case had been set for September 18, 2018, but it has now been moved to April 16, 2019. Discovery is still underway.

Illinois and Georgia are the only states in which independent candidates for U.S. House need a petition greater than 3% of the last gubernatorial vote. The Georgia case against the 5% (of the number of registered voters) is also undergoing discovery and will probably have a trial this year.

Attorneys for Illinois have made a hint about settling the case, but that would involve persuading the legislature. The later trial date gives the 2019 session of the legislature an opportunity to pass a bill that eases the requirement.